Words Of Warning From 49 Years Ago?

Less than three years after the original pirates had closed, BBC presented The Disc Jockeys, from that seasons Man Alive series. In a reasonably short period of time many of the original offshore radio DJ's had been assimilated into London's pop music culture and industry. It is interesting that for these recently acquired BBC employees, the past is so clearly of no significance. Money, fame and for some plenty of young ladies seemed preferable to living a pirates life.

So why do I say "words of warning"? Well it seems that some old anoraks still wear their rose tinted memories of the past selectively, or in chosen ignorance, and perhaps with a version of history that clearly was not how it happened. Plenty of former offshore presenters never got a gig with the BBC back then, others had to serve a little penance for daring to carry on until 1968, however all in all, the BBC hand picked the best, one or two went to Radio Luxembourg, the rest got proper jobs or went back home to radio in other lands. 

The reality that what happened in the sixties is somehow linked with any UK radio today is at best laughable. Those from this era are now quite old and sadly in some cases past away, a few far too young. For any radio station to claim a legacy back to the 1960's pirates, is a stretch to far. Put simply the original stations shut down, or were shut down and their employees moved on, some presenters to much better paid work, even for just two or three hours a week, indeed they did pretty well compared to your average anorak.

So remember, your heroes of yesteryear may have a different view of the past, and not one that on reflection they have only just arrived at.